Homeowners and renters whose properties were damaged during Hurricane Beryl have until Oct. 10 to apply for federal assistance.

The gist

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved 693,246 Texas households for disaster-related assistance since the July storm, FEMA Media Specialist Rita Obey said in an Oct. 1 email. This totals $748 million in financial assistance specifically for Beryl.

The details

Individuals with uninsured or underinsured losses from Beryl could be eligible for assistance. There are 22 counties eligible under the federal disaster declaration, including Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston and Waller counties, according to a Sept. 11 FEMA news release.


According to a FEMA fact sheet, the federal agency offers various assistance for property losses such as:
  • Appliances
  • Clothes and home furnishings
  • Tools for work or school
  • Items for eligible applicants with disabilities
Additionally, FEMA can also provide temporary housing, home repairs, rental assistance, transportation assistance, medical and dental assistance, and funeral expenses, according to the fact sheet.

How to get help

Obey said those interested in applying for FEMA assistance by Oct. 10 can do so in person at one of 12 Disaster Recovery Centers across Texas, most of which are in the Houston area. However, DRCs will close as the deadline approaches, so Obey recommends checking FEMA's website for a list of open locations.

Staff are on-site at the DRCs to help visitors apply for assistance, check their FEMA application status, understand FEMA letters, ask questions and learn about the U.S. Small Business Administration's programs, according to the FEMA website.


Individuals can also obtain assistance by:What else

The deadline for the SBA's physical damage loan is also Oct. 10; however, the organization also has an economic injury disaster loan for nonprofits and businesses, which has an application period that closes April 14, 2025, Obey said.